Against stereotypes.
Most people know favelas for violence, but if you spend, at least half a day there -like I did- you can see it from a totally different perspective.
This amazing google project “Beyond the Map” let you step inside the unexpected world of the favelas and understand what I mean.
This project is a virtual, 360-degree tours that combines photos, videos and short documentary to give a closer look into the lives of the favelas’ vibrant people.
Digitally, they are are invisible: the slums were never mapped and are gray areas on google maps. Tá No Mapa (On The Map) is a social and digital platform that since 2013 is putting Rio slums on the map thanks to AfroRaggae and Google collaboration.
Meet Barbara Olivi
The non-profit organization “Il Sorriso dei miei Bimbi” was officially founded in 2002, born from an idea of Barbara Olivi, an Italian living in Brazil, who since 1998 had been developing educational programmes for children and youth.
Located in one of the largest favelas in South America, Il Sorriso dei miei Bimbi aim is to improve social and educational conditions within the Community of Rocinha.
About Rio
Rio de Janeiro means “January River” : the explorer Lemos when first arrived in Rio in 1502 mistaked the bay with the mouth of a river.
Caipirinha was first used as medicine for treating the Spanish flu in the early 20th century. The recipe originally used lemon, garlic, and honey. Definitely better now!
Rio has 763 favelas: only four can be visited by tourists: Santa Marta (where in 1996 Michael Jackson filmed part of his video for the song “They don’t care about us”), Cantagalo, Vidigal, Rocinha (the biggest)
A samba school is like a “sports team” that during Carnival compete in a big parade held in Sambódromo. Each school has 75 minutes on the runway for which they prepare for 10 months
Tips for you
Christ The Redeemer is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The best time to visit is early in the morning. If you go during mid-afternoon, the sun will be right behind the Christ, so getting a clear photo of the statue is difficult.
Look for QR codes embedded in Rio’s black and white mosaic sidewalks. The codes offer tourists more information about the most visited spots such as Ipanema beach.
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